Intro to Islam (feat. Dr. Hussein Rashid)

Islam is a complicated topic and a politically charged topic here in the 21st century. But it is important that we learn about the world's 2nd largest religion. In this video, we will discuss Islam from a nonsectarian perspective, exploring its internal diversity, how the religion changed over time, and how it is embedded in different areas of culture around the world.

Twitter: @andrewmarkhenry

Special thanks to Dr. Hussein Rashid for help researching, writing, and co-hosting this episode. Follow him on Twitter at:
@islamoyankee

This video was made for the online classes offered by the Religious Freedom Center. A nonsectarian, nonpartisan organization in Washington DC committed to improving religious literacy and religious liberty. Follow them at: @NewseumReligion

Further Reading:
Alexander Knysh, "Sufism: A New History of Islamic Mysticism."

Edward Curtis, "The Practice of Islam in America: An Introduction."

Malise Ruthven, "Islam: A Very Short Introduction."

Reports on Sufi shrine and Islamic cultural heritage destruction:

[chickenman]

I am proud that majority of the comments are civilized and intellectual responses

[gavinmccormick]

The comments on this video are so civil, and I think I know why:
because the people likely to leave terrible comments dont watch unbiased educational videos on Islam lol

[mohammadabdelrahman]

9:30 just one thing missing, the Pilgrimage is stated "those who CAN do Pilgrimage are required to do it only ONCE and it's okay to do it more than once"

Those who can't do Pilgrimage, are not required.

In the Quran there's the most important verse: "God does not burden any soul (person) beyond its (their) scope (capacity)"

[TreespeakerOfTheLand]

This is a summary of about 80% -85% of my uni's Religious Studies course on Islam, I'm very impressed. I think you gave a good summary of the variety of Islam and still gave some ways to understand it as a coherent structure. I'll be sure to send this to my prof :)

[SithMirth]

Thank you for posting! This is the clearest and most illuminating introduction to Islam I've ever seen or read. Most appreciated is the focus on the internal diversity which is so often ignored in discussion of Islam.

[HolldollMcG]

I grew up in Utah in the Mormin religion, and now as an adult i love learning about other religions and cultures around the world and how deeply and vastly steeped in history so many of them are. Fascinating. Thank you for taking the time to explain things to us in a way we can understand!

[liaarfianti]

I learned more in this video than my 21 years living as a Muslim in a Muslim-majority country.

[SkiesToInfinity]

This is a great intro. I am a Christian and have explored a lot of religious paths before I became Christian. I did not know much about Islam, so this was very helpful. Thank you

[ramentaco]

My family homeschools, and I’m the older sister to two younger brothers who are still being homeschooled. I do lessons with them about things that I think are important that they don’t learn anywhere else, and I include your videos in a lot of our lessons. We were raised evangelical so I think it’s important for them to get a broader view of other religions. Thank you for making these videos and sharing knowledge ❤️

[erlinggaratun]

If there is anything I believe in, it's education. This was way educational. Keep it up :) I like your open minded, scholarly approach to these subjects. I'm sure my old professors would have recommended your videos if they existed 20 yrs ago. Any chance you will be doing some vids on new religious movements in the foreseeable future?

[elfarlaur]

Thank you for this video. As someone who has taken courses on Islamic studies out of curiosity, especially with all of the attention it has been getting, it makes me so happy to hear you clear up so much of the stuff which people just don't understand or take for granted. This is especially in regards to the discussion on Shariah. I can't even count how many times I've tried to explain that it isn't just a solid, unchanging code of things you have to do. I wish more people would take an interest in finding the truth rather than taking rumour at face value.

[gabrielleangelica]

Thank you for being open minded, educating and not spreading hate... THAT is godly.

[harsyakiarraathallah]

to me as an Muslim Myself, what i learn from my Religion is you must keep and Always Improving yourself to be Better and More then before. From are Iman, Salah, and are Good Deeds plus How you Life you must keep Learning, Evolve, and Changing to go Beyond yourself

[esquizz]

Waiting for the next part with excitement. I've receantly moved to Morocco and I'm attempting my first ramadan as a personal experience and as a way to better understand the community I'm now part of. Thank you for this video.

[bkstudio]

People forget that the middle east used to be the intellectual center of the world. Algebra is an arabic word.

[Livoirienyvoitrien]

This video is an important one for Islam. I am Christian and have always felt attracted by Islam, esp. the prayer practice. I don't know whether I will one day technically convert, but I don't think it is even necessary. At the moment, I am receiving my inspiration from quran and bible alike, and I can't see anything wrong with that. One day, all temple will be torn down, and the warm wind of God's eternal grace will blow unobstructedly again over the surface of an earth of dignity, compassion and love, and a creation shall see it an happily move towards its completion.
ان الله يبارك فينا بالمساء اليوم و بالمساء الحياة و بالمساء المالم.

[wade]

This is fascinating. I never knew how interesting religion could be looking into it from the perspective of just wanting to learn.

[gtunkhc]

Please expand series like this one. In the era of increasing globalisation, unprecendented amount of contact between cultures and rapidly developing communication technology, people need to be educated in religious literacy in order to avoid conflict.

[blaineleavitt]

I can’t get enough of this stuff. Love this channel.

[robbalink]

Thank you for this vid. It is very informative in the proper context. I am a Christian and know (not just believes) that we all, as believers in the one true God, are commanded to love one another because God loves us. The only way to do that is to understand each other better. Thanks again for helping us to do that. Keep up the good work and God bless!